Gandolfini to star in 'Carnage' on B'way

NEW YORK, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis, James Gandolfini and Marcia Gay Harden have signed on to star in Yasmina Reza's new play "God of Carnage" on Broadway.

Translated from its original French by Christopher Hampton and directed by Matthew Warchus, the show is slated to open at the Bernard Jacobs Theatre March 22. Previews are to begin Feb. 28, representatives for the play said Tuesday.

The production, which heads to Broadway after a sold-out run in London's West End last year, reunites the creative team that staged the Tony Award-winning best play, "Art."

"'Carnage' is a comedy of manners without the manners," said a news release from the show's representatives. "The play deals with the aftermath of a playground altercation between two boys and what happens when their parents meet to talk about it."

Daniels' Broadway credits include "Redwood Curtain" and "Fifth of July." He recently appeared in the U.S. premiere of the play "Blackbird." His film credits include "Terms of Endearment," "Pleasantville," "Dumb and Dumber," "The Hours" and "The Squid and the Whale."

Davis appeared on Broadway in "Ivanov" and "Two Shakespearean Actors." She has also appeared in the movies "About Schmidt," "Proof," "The Matador," "Synecdoche N.Y." and "American Splendor."

Gandolfini is best known for his portrayal of Tony Soprano in HBO's "The Sopranos." He made his Broadway debut in "A Streetcar Named Desire," co-starring Jessica Lange and Alec Baldwin.

Harden earned Drama Desk and Theatre World awards for her performance on Broadway in "Angels in America." She won an Academy Award for her performance in "Pollock" and an Oscar nod for "Mystic River."